Vending machine



: Feb. 25, 1947. a. w. FRY

VENDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 5, 1941 Feb. 25, 1947.

B. W. FRY

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed ma 5, 1941 FIG.3

8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 25, 1947. 5, w, FRY

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed May 5, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 25, 1947. B. w. FRY 2,416,439

vmmme mums Original Filed May 5, 1941 8 Shets-Sheet 5 ill-ll lull lll lll ll ill II. I l-IIIIIL .n II P lir? I Feb. 25, 1947. B. w. FRY

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed May 5, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet .6

FIG-8.

Feb. 25, 1947. B. w. FRY 2,416,439

' VENDING MACHINE Original Filed May 5, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original FiledMay 5, 1941 Patented Feb. 25", 1947 VENDING moms.

Benjamin W. Fry, University City, Mo., assignor to National vendors Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corpoe,

ration of Missouri riginal application May 5, 1941, Serial No. 391,907. Divided and this application July 27, 1944, Serial No. 546,779

Claims. 1

This invention relates to vending machines generally, and with regard to certain more specific features, to vending machines for cigarette packages and the like.

The invention is a division of that disclosed in my United States patent application Serial No. 391,907, filed May 5, 1941, for Vending machine, eventuated as U. S. Patent 2,377,413, dated June a match supply box with the cover partially open,

parts being broken away.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Inasmuch as a description of much of the mechanical construction of theparent application 5, 1945; the divisional subject-matter being that directed to means to deliver a match unit or package for each delivery of the article being sold, wh ch in the present embodiment is a package of cigarettes.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision in a vending machine of the class described having the following characteristics:

A compact, relatively simple, arrangement having a large capacity for match books which does not require pre-loading of matches into the vended packages per so, as heretofore, and matches being carried in the machine in a novel and compact manner.

Another object is the-provision of apparatu of the class described which may be easily re.- loaded and serviced. 1

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter,

,The invention accordingly comprises the elemerits and combinations of elements, features of construction. and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application thereof will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated several of various, possible embodiments,

Fig. 1 is a. front elevation on.a reduced scale;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing in dotted lines a partially removed position of a front panel;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 4 is a vertical'section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-8 of Fig. 9;

Fig, 7 is a vertical section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 9; r

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 8-4 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 99 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away; and,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of is not necessary for a complete understanding of the divisional subject-matter herein presented, only that part which is necessary is described.

Referring now} more particularly to Figs. 1 and I ing as shown in dash lines in Fig. '2. Thefrontpanel carries on it a right-hand coin-retum cup III, a central package receiver I2I,,and at the left a match-bookreceiver I23. Thecups III. I2I

and I23 are associated with suitable adjacent open ngs, through the panel 9. A coin. inlet is indicated at I25 which receives'the necessary pieces. Below the coin receiver I25 is a coin test- 1 ing and counting unit Twhich is made along the lines of, the testing and counting, unit shown inthe United States Patent application of Benjamin W. Fry, SerialNo, 344,011, filed Julyv 5, 1940, for

Coin-controlled apparatus, eventuated as U.

Patent 2.361,835, dated October 31, 1944. Below the testing and counting unit T is a coin-receiving box I29 for good coins. This coin box re- I ceives only 5 and 10 pieces. All other unwanted coins pass into the coin cup Hi. If desired, a coin se ector may be employed between receiver I25 and unit T, butthis is not shown, being an attachable item ofany desired design which may be purchased for the purpose.

At I3I is shown a chute that passes from one end of a, horizontal match container I33, to the match-delivery cup I23. Below thei-match container I33 is a horizontal penny change containis provided with a long window I for viewing one each of various brands of'packages in the openings 43I, located for display at the upper 66 ends of the individual supply chambers I41.-

other one becomes empty.

2,377,413). Above the window I45 are openings lindividual supply chambers I 41 extend vertically and parallel as indicated in Figs. 3 and 6.

The above furnishes enough background con- The purpose of The match supply is in a horizontal plane above the horizontal plane 01' a penny change-maker box shown by numeral I35. This is for maximum saving in space. The match-delivery means has parallel'supply columns, none of which becomes empty substantially ahead of the time that any The match supply box I33 is shown in Fig.

and consists of a bottom 6| I resting upon a cross bar 6I3 which forms a support. Quick detachable connections are provided at 6I5. These are gudgeons which may be deposited in open slots 'IOI cut vertically in supporting members I03. This allows complete removal of the box if de-v sired, or rotation on the gudgeons 6| 5 without removal from the slots 'IIlI in order that. the

1 I43 from whichforwardly extend push buttons, 1 ISI. The push rods 55 are located under "the horizontal penny container as shown in Fig. 3. The

tions 656 of the forward edge of bottom wall 6 are spaced rearward of flanges 623 so as to provide, in effect, delivery slots or outlets at the-forward ends of the match book compartments. The lower edges of the flanges 623 are also above theplanes of the bottom 61 I. The forward book in a compartment is pulled down by the respective claw through the respective outlet and projected into chute I3I, from whence it moves out struction from the said parent application to lo cate the match-delivery means ,whichforms the subject of this divisional case. the match-delivery means is to supply a book of matches with each cigarette package. delivered.

to the match delivery cup I23. Each tongue 631 reciprocates from an uppermost point near the uppermost side of an .endmost match book but does not move beyond the lower side of any book.

out getting under the next endmost book before upward travel of the tongue. If the latter event occurred upward motion of the tongue would be blocked. In view of the elevated position of the penny boxtherebelow may be reached. Frommatch books 625. Pressing on the'other ends of the columns of bgoks are sliding pushers 621 from each of which extend two flexible wires 629. The wires pass over pulleys Gill and then fdownward by pairs to respective weights 633 sliding in guides 635 on the end of the machine. The wires are positioned on the sides of the wedgeshaped match books and prevent them from spreading laterally (by wedging) and thus prevent' jamming.

Normally, the ends of the columns of matches are pushed against tongues 631 of extracting claws 633. Each claw is guided by lateral grooved rollers 6H, and by a third roller 345 in groove 643. The rollers 6M and 645 space the claws 639 above a train of gears 641, rotary on an end plate 649. The gear train is driven at a 3: 1 speed ratio from the pinion 5II on the end of shaft 5I5 (Figs. 4 and 7).

, Each gear 641 is provided with a drive pin 65I' which works in a slot 653 of its respective claw. Thus. upon rotation of the gears, the claws execute vertical reciprocating motion and each is one third of a cycle out of phase with the other, the pins 65I providing such action. Each combination of pin 65| v and associated slotted portion of its respective claw member constitutes a Scotch-yoke mechanism. a Upon upward movement of a claw- 639, its tongue 631 moves over the first book of matches -in the respective column 625, through a notch 622, and upon descent pulls this book down and outof its compartment H9. The lid 62I holds down the match book upon upward motion of the adjacent claw. The respective book moves into position under the tongue 63! by the biasing action of the respective pusher 621. Curved p01.-

lower edge of each fiange623 above bottom 3I I, each match book is drawn free as its respective claw 633 pulls it down. Matches are successively taken, book by book, from successive columns and delivered to the chute I3I as'needed, one book being delivered upon each operation of the machine. By this means, all columns are exhausted at the samerate. Thus a continuous supply of matches is available until all match books are used up, and at the same time space is conserved by having the columns arranged in parallel, along with the four-column penny box in a horizontal plane on top of the machine. The matches are pulled down out of their container and thus no extra head room is required. The cover for the machine indicated at 651 forms part of the front panel I I9 and is provided with a lock No jammingoccurs when the match box is empty, because the followers 62'! have bevel edges 628 for non-hooking cooperation with the tongues 631. The follower 621 are provided with hooks 626 for holding them in retracted positions while filling (see Figs. 6, 7 and 10) The gears 64'! are operated from the pinion 5|! by other parts of the machine. These need not be detailed since this has been done-in the 3 parent application and the coordination between them and the remainder of the apparatus is not important to the present divisional subject-matter.

The match container I33 may be removed for loading. The cords 629 allow for complete removal having quick detachable connections 634,

a and also reduce the friction between the side space, requiring little head room, since all package delivery is from below. The machine is about 50 inches high. Furthermore, the matches and pennies are laid in horizontal planes (instead of in vertical planes) and are in parallel columns. There is practically no waste space within the console case. It will be noted in this connection that the means for reciprocating the claws 639 lie within the. L shape formed by said claws and the horizontal assembly shown in Fig. 10, the latter forming the match book columncontainer. This leaves a space on the outside of the L shape for accommodating the cords 629 upon which the weights 533 are suspended.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In vending apparatus, means to deliver units comprising means to contain a plurality of horizontal columns of said units arranged in a horizontal plane, a plurality of reciprocating means in a common plane normal to the plane of said columns for withdrawing units successively from the respective columns, coordinated Scotch-yoke means operating in a vertical plane and respectively controlling the reciprocatin means, a

follower member on each column of units at one.

end thereof, follower cord reache extending from each follower along two sides of its respective column, guide means at the opposite end of the column adjacent said reciprocating means for guiding said cord reaches, and vertically sliding weights operative in a plane closely adjacent to the plane of operation of said reciprocating means to which said cords are attached, the driving elements of said Scotch-yoke mechanisms being phased at 120 with respect to one another.

2. In vending apparatus, a case, a horizontal package-holding box comprising a horizontal channel for a horizontal column of packages, supporting means for said box within said case, quick detachable means between said supportin means and box allowing tilting of the box to allow for reaching of parts therebelow or complete removal from its supporting means, a follower for the column of packages within the channel, a loop of cord extending from two point on the follower and extending horizontally along the channel, guide means at the front end of the channel for suspending depending portions of the loop, said box being formed with an outlet through which packages may be moved, reciprocating extracting means mounted for movement in said case and operating at said outlet but being free of physical connection with the box whereby the latter may, be freely tilted or removed from its supporting means, means in said case for reciprocating said reciprocating means, a suspended weight movable in the case, and quick detachable connections between the cord and weight comprising means on the weight under which the cord is removably looped.

3. In vending apparatus, a case, a horizontal package-holding box comprising a plurality of horizontal channels for horizontal columns of packages, supporting means for said box within the case, quick detachable means between said supporting means and box allowing tilting of the box to allow for reaching of parts therebelow or complete removal from its supporting means, an openable cover over the box allowing access thereto without removal of the box, individual followers for columns of packages within the channels, individual loops of cord extending from two points on each follower and extending horizontally along the channels, guide means at the front ends of the channels for suspending depending portions of the loops, said box being formed with outlets through which packages may be extracted, reciprocating extracting means mounted for movement in said case and cooperating with said outlets but being free of physical connections with the box whereby the latter may be freely tilted or removed from its supporting means, means in said case for reciprocating said reciprocating means, suspended sliding weights movable in the case, and quick detachable connections between the cords and weights comprising means on the weights under which the cords are removably looped.

4. In vending apparatus, a plurality of parallel substantially horizontal channels for holding columns of package units, said channels having delivery outlets at the forward ends thereof,.a plurality of slotted reciprocating plates movable in a substantially vertical plane adjacent the forward ends of said channels and providing means for withdrawing units successively from the respective channels through the outlets and dropping them, rotary pin means operating in a substantially vertical plane and respectively cooperating with the slots in said plates for con trolling them, a follower member in each channel acting against the rearward end of the column of package units therein, follower cords extending from each follower along the sides of the respective column, guide means at the forward ends of said channels adjacent the plates for guiding said cords, and vertically sliding weights to which saidcords are attached operative in a plane closely adjacent to the plane of operation of said plates.

5. In vending apparatus, a plurality of parallel substantially horizontal channels for holding columns of package units, said channels having delivery outlets at the forward ends thereof, a

plurality of reciprocating members movable in a substantially vertica1 plane adjacent the forward ends of said channels and providing means for withdrawing units successively from said channels, said channels through the outlets and reciprocating members forming an L-shaped arrangement of parts, rotary means lying within the angle of said L-shaped arrangement for reciprocating said members, a follower member in each channel for the column of package units therein, a loop of cord extending from two points on each follower longitudinally along each channel and vertically outside of said reciprocating members, and means biasing said loops to cause said followers to bias said columns of units toward the forward nds of said channels.

BENJAMIN W. FRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

